Prayagraj: The mandatory six-month bridge course for BEd-qualified assistant teachers appointed in primary schools across the country is set to begin soon, with Uttar Pradesh accounting for more than half of the 66,154 teachers who have applied for the training.National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) has completed preparations for conducting the special course recognised by National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE), following Supreme Court’s directions.According to official data, 33,640 teachers from Uttar Pradesh have applied for the training, the highest among all states. Madhya Pradesh follows with 10,650 applicants, while 7,569 teachers from Bihar and 6,627 from West Bengal have registered. Assam has 1,376 applicants and Chhattisgarh 1,208.Although states had approved the training programme nearly four months ago, its launch was delayed as some teachers approached SC seeking exemption from the bridge course. The petitions have now been disposed of.Supreme Court had directed that BEd-qualified assistant teachers appointed in primary schools between June 28, 2018, and Aug 11, 2023, must undergo the bridge course. The teachers will have to complete the programme in one attempt within one year from the date of its commencement. Failure will render their appointments invalid.NIOS deputy director Alok Kumar Gupta, associated with the capacity-building cell at its Noida headquarters, said preparations for launching the bridge course had been completed.Meanwhile, UP govt has selected 1,553 girl students from colleges affiliated with Prof Rajendra Singh (Rajju Bhaiya) University under Rani Lakshmibai Scooty Scheme.As many as 1,536 students from the general category were selected at a cut-off of 72.20%, while 17 students from categories including destitute, disabled, families of martyrs and freedom fighters were selected at a cut-off of 62.20%.Document verification of the selected students will be held at the university’s administrative building from 10 am to 5 pm on Sept 7. Nearly 1,200 students have already completed verification. The remaining candidates have been asked to bring their marksheets, identity proof, Aadhaar card, domicile and income certificates, along with the mobile phone linked to their Aadhaar.
